Bottle washing and sterilizing apparatus.



No. 687,655. Patented Nov. 26, 190i. F. T. SGHIEEU BOTTLE WASHING AND ST'EKlLlZlNG APPARATUS.

(Applicatioa filed June,21, 1901.) v (No Model.) 4 Shaets-Sheet I.

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Patented Nov. 26, IQDI.

F. T. scum. v BOTTLE WASHING AND STEBILIZING APPARATUS.

A lication filed June 21, 1901.

4 sheets Sheoi 2.

(No Model.)

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I Patented Nov. 26, l90l. F. T. SCHE'ID.

BUTTLE WASHING AND STERILIZING APPARATUS.

A lication filed. June 21, 1901.

4 Sheets-Shea: a.

(NolModaL) lv'tmeooeo I f ham N0. 687,655. A Patented Nov. 26, l90l.

F. T. SCHEID.

BOTTLE WASHING AND STEBILIZING APPARATUS.

(Application filed. June 21, 1901.) (No Model.) 6 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

UNIT D STATES I PATENT rrrcn.

FRANK TI-I. SOHEI D, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A WVILLIAM L. GOETZ, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

BOTTLE WASHING AND STERILIZING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,655, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed June 21, 1901- Serial No. 65,492. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK TH. SCHEID, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle Washing and Sterilizing Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in bottle Washing and sterilizing apparatus; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts more fully set forth in [5 the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a combined longitudinaldiagrammatic section and elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enzo larged detail of the parts at the ridge of the truss-bars. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing gearing by which the rods carrying the bottles down the chute are impelled. Fig. 4. is a plan of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the chain-links. Fig. 6 is an end View of one of the bottle-supporting plates. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on line 7 7 of Fig. 8. Fig. Sis a top plan of one end of the bottle-supporting plate and chain coupled thereto. Fig. 9 is asection on line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig; 10 is an enlarged crosssection on line 10 10 of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a top plan of the member of the chain-link to which the bottle supporting plate is pivoted. 3 Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional detail of the abutting ends of the rock-shafts controlling the cams which elevate the tracks on which the bottles rest during their travel in the tank. Fig. 13 is aside elevation of the lever and connecting-links by which the rockshafts are operated. Fig. 14 is an elevation of one of the bottle frames or baskets. Fig. 15 is a top plan of the opening formed in the bottle-supporting plate. Fig. 16 is a bottom view thereof. Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15 with the basket in place, the latter being shown in section on line 17 17 of Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is a Vertical section on line 18 18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is an end view of the driving-gear carried by the main tank. Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail of the bottle-turning rack-plate carried by the tank. Fig. 21 is a top plan of a section of the chute with the rods supporting the bottles thereon; and Fig.

22 is a view of one of the baskets, showinga brush temporarily inserted therein.

lhe object of my invention is to construct an apparatus permitting the bottles to be refilled and emptied out twice while passing through the bath in the tank, thereby effecting a saving in thelength of the tank and at the same time reducing the amount of handling of the bottles during the soaking and Washing operation.

A further objeotis to provide an apparatus which will permit the simultaneous handling of the bottles of different capacity, such as pints and quarts, to provide means for rinsing the bottles after being soaked and sterilized, to provide an apparatus which will insure uniform results, one which will be simple, readily controlled, easily manipulated, one containing a minimum number of parts, and at the same time having maximum capacity, and one possessing further and other advantages better apparent from a detailed description of the invention, which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a tank of suitable capacity, the same being filled with a twenty-five to thirty per cent. solution of caustic soda in soft water. This solution is kept at a temperature of from 40 to 45 Raumur by means of steam injected thereinto through a steam-pipe S near the bottom of the rear of the tank, as shown. Bolted or otherwise secured to the tank on each side thereof are the truss-bars 2 2, the ridge of each truss serving to support a guide-pulley 3, mounted, preferably, in an 0 adjustable heating or block 4, whose position is controlled by an adjusting-screw 5, passing through bearings 6 on the truss, this being an ordinary method of adjusting shaftbearings. At the bottom of the forward end 5 of the tank are mounted thedriving sprocketwheels 7, the shaft 8 thereof projecting beyond one of the side walls of the tank and terminating at that end in a worm-wheel 9, which is actuated by a Worm-pinion 10 at one end of the main drive-shaft 11, mounted in brackets 1212 at the side of the tank,

said shaft 11 having loosely mounted thereon the drive-pulleys 13 14 of different diameters. Between the pulleys 13 14 is feathered to the drive-shaft the clutch 15, adapted to be coupled to one or the other of said pulleys 13 14 by means of the lever 16 (pivoted to bracket 17) and the controlling-bar l8 therefor. By coupling the clutch 15 to one or the other of the pulleys 13 14 motion may be imparted to the shaft 8 at different speeds, it being understood that each of the pulleys 13 14 are driven at different speeds from a common source of power, (not shown,) and it being further understood that motion in but one direction will be imparted to the shaft 8 by the clutch coupled to either pulley 13 14 on the drive-shaft 11. Motion being imparted to the sprocket-wheels 7 the latter each serve to impel (in the direction as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1) a sprocket chain belt 0, each chain passing over the upper guide-pulley 3, previously referred to, over a similar lower guide-pulley 3at the upper edge of the rear of the tank, over intermediate smallerguidepulleys 19 19, and over the smaller guidepulleys 20 and 21, located, respectively, at the lower rear corner of the tank and at the forward upper portion thereof, so that certain sections of each lap of the chain belts pass through the tank, the intermediate sections being outside the tank.

As seen to better advantage in Figs. 5, 8, and 9, the main drive-chain 0 comprises an outer pair of links 22, an inner pair of links 23, connected to the first pair by a pin 24 and separated by a spacing-sleeve 25, each link being provided with rollers 26-, interposed be tween the adjacent ends of the links referred to, said rollers serving to travel on strips or tracks 27 27 at the bottom and sides of the tank, thus avoiding anydraggingof the chain in its travel through the tank. Pivotally or rotatably mounted between the chains 0 C and distributed at regular intervals along the lengths thereof and extending across the tank 1 are a series of bottle holding or supporting plates P, each plate being provided (in the present machine) with twelve openings O of a diameter sufficient to freely admit a pint or a quart bottle. Snperposed over each opening 0 and firmly secured to the plate is a wire basket or frame F, inclosing the bottle B, inserted through the opening, and preventing the dropping out of said bottle in one direction from said opening, the bottle being free to discharge (at the proper moment, as presently to be seen) in the opposite direction. The frame F is composed of a series of wires 20, conforming to the general contour of a bottle, the bases of said wires being looped about a circular wire band to ofa diameter slightly in excess of that of the opening 0 of the plate P, a series of the wires to being continued after looping about the band to in the shape of extensions 20', which are subsequently deflected outwardly in the shape of arms 10. These arms are adapted to freely pass through the radial recesses r, formed along the edge of the opening 0, and after being once fully inserted the entire frame is given a slight turn or twist, so as to bring the arms 10 out of alinement with the recesses r and into suitable depressions or radial notches n, the latter being in continuation of the shoulders .9, formed along the edges of the opening 0, said shoulders limiting the degree of the twist or turn imparted to the frame by limiting the further movement of the extensions to with which they come in contact. Thus the frame F is firmly secured to the plate P, being prevented from falling through the opening 0 in one direction by the band to, which is of larger diameter, and being prevented from detaching itself in the opposite direction by the arms 10, now firmly embedded in the notches n. The baskets F are sufficient to receive the full length of a pint bottle; but in the case of quarts the latter projects a short distance below the plate P. (See Fig. 14.)

As previously stated, the plates P serve to carry the bottles along during the travel of the chains 0 O, the baskets F preventing the discharge or falling of the bottles while in their inverted or partially-inverted position, the bottles being supported in their upright positions While traveling through the tank by means of vertically adjustable guides or tracks T and T, respectively, each track comprising a flat bar bent upward in the proper direction at its end, clearly seen in the drawings. There are two independent series of six tracks both above and below, (properly connected by cross-bars 28,) each series being capable of independent vertical adjustment in the manner presently to appear. In the case of quart bottles, which, as above stated, project slightly below the plates P, the tracks T T occupy their lowest position to allow the bottoms of the bottles to ride over them without jamming. In the case of pints the tracks must be sufficiently raised to insure .the pints being properly retained in the baskets or frames designed for their reception, and being that the tracksare formed in two independent sections it is possible to operate with pint bottles on one side of the machine and with quarts on the other, as fully apparent from the drawings. In their vertical adjustment the tracks are guided by the rods 29 29, about which the ends of the tracks are looped,

the vertical adjustment being accomplished by the following mechanism:

Disposed on each side of the front of the tank is a pivoted lever 30, from which extend rearwardly the lower and upper connectinglinks 31 31, respectively, the rear ends of the links being pivotally connected to a series of arms 32 32, whose bases are rigidly coupled to the lower and upper sectional rock-shafts 33 33, disposed transversely in the tank, the abutting ends of the shafts being mounted in a common hearing or housing 34 of ordinary construction. The connections just plate.

described are disposed on the outside of the tank; but on the inside the several rockshafts 33 33 have secured thereto a series of cams 35 35, a series of such cams being distributed under each track T T. Upon the oscillation of the levers 30 in the proper direction the several rock-shafts will be rocked in one direction or the other and the cams raised or lowered, thereby raising or lowering the tracks as occasion may require. Since the angular sweep of the upper series of cams 35 is greater than that of the lower series, (being that they are farther removed from the pivotal axes of the levers 30,) the eccentricity of said upper series is proportionately reduced to insure the same adjustment for the upper tracks as for the lower ones. When either lever 30 has been oscillated to its proper position, it may be locked in place by a pawl 36, cooperating with a toothed plate 37, as is obvious.

Assuming that the bottles are introduced into their baskets at a point just above the periphery of the guide-pulley 21, they will be carried and guided through the tank and filled, as best seen in Fig. 1, and when passing about the peripheries of the pulleys 3 the bottles willlempty theircontents into the tank. In order that they be filled a second time during the balance of their journey through the tank, it is necessary that they be righted while passing over the upper series of tracks T. This righting of the bottles is accomplished at a point tangent to the periphery of the pulleys 3 immediately above the intermediate guide-pulleys 19 19. To right the bottles,theplate P,which,aspreviouslystated, is rotatably mounted between the chains 0 0, must be given a half-revolution just as the bottles are reentering the tank. This rotation thus imparted to the plate P is accomplished by the following mechanism: Referring more particularly to Figs. 6, '7, and 8, it will be seen that the opposite ends of the plate P have each cast therewith a terminal toothed pinion 38, at the geometrical center of which is disposed a hollow boss 39, likewise cast on the plate, said boss having two opposite plane faces, as shown in the drawings. Now the particular inner member of the outer chainlinks, between which the plate P is mounted, has cast integrally therewith the inwardlyprojecting arms or oblong studs 40 and the central spindle 41, the latter being freely inserted into the socket of the boss 39 of the Secured and frictionally held in suitable recesses 42 in the studs 40 are flat springs 43, extending across the space between the studs, their fixed ends being at the opposite diagonal outer corners of the studs. (See Fig.

5.) Now when the spindle 41 is inserted into the socket of the boss 39 the springs 43 will normally bear against the fiat or plane faces of the boss carried by the plate, their resiliency insuring against any accidental rotation of the plate P as the latter travels through At the point,

and on the outside of the tank.

however, where the necessary half-rotation must be imparted to the plate for the purpose just specified-that is, at the point adjacent to the entrance of the upper laps of the chain belts into the tank-is located on each side of the tank a toothed rack-plate R, which at the proper moment engages the teeth of the pinion 38, rotating the latter and the plate to which it is secured, the springs 43 being under the circumstances slightly parted, Fig. 5, and freely riding over the narrow faces or sides of the stud, the springs by their resiliency again closing over the plane faces of the stud upon the completion of the half-turn of the plate,

as referred to. Of course the parts are so adjusted and the teeth are on the rack-plate R of the exact number to accomplish this half-turn of the plate P at the proper time, the resiliency of the spring arms 43 in a measure assisting this rotation in their tendency to close over the studs as the latter revolve. The bottles thus turned will now be in the proper position to travel in an upright position along the tracks 35 and for a second time be filled with the sterilizing solution. Upon emerging from the tank a second time they again empty their contents thereinto and pass along upwardly, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1. In reaching a point substantially tangent to the guide-pulleys 3 the plates P encounter another set of rack-plates R" (mounted on the truss-bars 2) and there are given a half-turn in the proper direction to cause the bottoms of the baskets F to point outwardly and permit the automatic discharge of the bottles from the plates P. In being thus discharged the bottles slide down a corrugated chute 44, supported, respectively, by the truss-bars 2 and sweet-water tank 1, and float into the adjacently-located sweet-water tank 1. To prevent a too sudden precipitation of the bottles into the tank 1, I provide the following lowering mechanism therefor in their travel along the chute: Secured to the axis or stud of each guidepulley 3 is a pinion 45, which meshes with a second-pinion 46 on a stud or boss mounted on the truss bar 2, said stud carrying a sprocket-wheel 4.7, over which passes a chain 48, traveling over a second sprocket-wheel 49. Adjacent to the wheel 49 is a sprocket-wheel 49', over which passes a chain 50, the oppo site end passing over a sprocket-wheel 51 at the lower end of the chute, the chains 50 being connected at regular intervals by crossbars 52, against which the bottoms of the bottles rest in their descent into the tank 1. Disposed transversely across the tank 1 is a revolving beater 53, composed of a rotatable spool having peripherally-radiating arms made, preferably, of Spanish cane or similar yielding material, said arms serving to advance or shove the bottles along as they enter the tank 1. The beater is driven by sprocketchains 51-, passing over sprocket -wheels 55 56, carried, respectively, by the guide -pulleys 3 and beater 53. The tank 1 is divided into two compartments by a longitudinal division-wall 57, the object thereof being to keep the pint and quart bottles separated should occasion require that one half of the plates P be supplied with pints and the other half with quarts. The tank 1 is provided with a screen 58, raised slightly above the bottom of the tank, the latter having a discharge-pipe 59, leading to the sewer. The tank 1 has likewise a pipe 60 leading to sewer. The bottom of the tank 1 (partially supported on a trestle 61) is raised above the tank 1, the latter being provided with a door 62, through which the dirt accumulated in the tank can be removed. In practice the bottom of the tank is scraped by a series of brushes B, inserted into the openings 0 of the plates P upon the completion of the washing operation.

It was stated above that the shaft 8 could be driven at different speeds. This is for the purpose of varying the length of time during which the bottles are submerged, such length depending on the condition of the bottles prior to the cleaning operation. If the bottles are very unclean, they are allowed to pass more slowly through the tank, as is obvious.

It is to be noted thatI may depart in many particulars from the detailed constructions herein set forth without affecting either the spirit or nature of my invention.

Having described my invention, what claim is- 1. In a bottle-Washing apparatus, a suitable tank, means for conveying the bottles through the tank and permitting the same to fill,and subsequently bringing the bottles out of the tank and permitting the same to empty, and means for causing the bottles to pass through the tank a second time and fill. and subsequently empty, the bottles in their sec- 0nd passage partially retracing the area covered by their first passage, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a suitable tank, and rotatably-mounted bottle-supporting devices superposed above the bottom of the tank for conveying the bottles through and out of the tank and permit the same to alternately fill and empty upon their respective entrance into and passage out of said tank, the bottles in their successive passages through the tank retracing the area covered by them in any previous passage therethrough, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a suitable tank, endless chain belts having sections of their upper and lower laps passing through the tank, bottle-supporting devices disposed between said belts, the intermediate sections of the belts passing out of said tank, whereby the said bottle-supporting devices alternately enter into, and emerge from the tank substantially as set forth.

4.. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a suitable tank, endless belts having sections of their upper and lower laps submerged in the tank, bottle-supporting devices disposed between the belts, the intermediate sections of the belts passing outside the tank, and suitable mechanism cooperating with the bottlesupporting devices for righting the bottles as they pass through the tank, the bottles being alternately filled and emptied in their passage through and out of the tank, substantially as set forth.

5. In a bottlewvashing apparatus, a suitable tank, endless belts having sections of their upper and lower laps submerged in the tank, bottle-supporting rotatable plates disposed between the belts, mechanism for imparting rotation to the plates at a point adjacent to the point of entrance of the upper lap into thetank, and means for retaining the plates in position after being once rotated the proper degree, substantially as set forth.

6. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a suitable tank, endless belts having sections of their upper and lower laps submerged in the tank, bottle supporting plates rotatably mounted between the belts, a frame for preventing the falling of the bottles from the plates in one direction, suitable tracks or guides for each submerged lap of the chains for preventing the discharge of the bottles in the opposite direction from the plates, and devices for imparting the required rotation to the plates at the proper time to insure the travel of the bottles along the upper tracks in a position to enable the same to fill, substantially as set forth.

7. In a bottle-Washing apparatus, a suitable tank, endless belts having sections of their upper and lower laps submerged in the tank, bottle supporting plates rotatably mounted between the belts, a frame for each bottle for supporting itagainst discharge from the plate in one direction, upper and lower tracks for supporting the bottoms of the bottles, means of adjusting the position of the tracks according to the length of the bottle supported thereby, devices for imparting the necessary rotation to the plates and bottles carried thereby to enable the latter to pass with their bottoms along the upper tracks and insure their refilling in the tank, substantially as set forth 8. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a suit able tank, endless belts having sections of their upper and lower laps submerged in the tank, bottle-supporting plates disposed be tween the chains, said plates having open in gs for the reception of the bottles, tracks for said bottles, a lever pivoted in proximity to the tank, a series of rock-shafts disposed transversely to the tracks within the tank, arms at the end of said rock-shafts, a link connecting the series of arms with the lever, cams disposed along the rock-shafts under each track, whereby upon the oscillation of the lever in proper direction, the tracks may be lowered or raised at will, substantially as set forth.

9. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a suitable tank, endless belts having sections of their upper and lower laps submerged in the tank, bottle supporting plates, rotatably mounted between the belts, a frame for each bottle, tracks disposed in the tank for the support of the bottoms of the bottles in their travel through the tank, devices for imparting the required rotation to the plates to insure the righting of the bottles in advancing with the upper lap of the belt through the tank, and additional devices for imparting a final rotation to the plates after the bottles have emerged from the tank to insure a direction for them to enable them to automatically discharge from the plates and frames enveloping the bottles, substantially as set forth.

10. In a bottle-Washing apparatus, a suitable traveling chain belt, studs carried on each side of the center of the inner member of one of the segments thereof, spring-arms having fixed ends secured to said studs, said arms spanning the studs on opposite sides, a bottle-supporting'plate having a terminal pinion, a hollow boss located at the geometrical center of the pinion, and having opposite plane faces, a spindle carried by the chain-segment between the studs and adapted to be freely inserted into the socket of the boss, a tank for the reception of the bottles, and devices in connection with the tank for imparting rotation to the pinion and plate carrying the same, the parts operating substantially as set forth.

11. In abottle-washing apparatus, a suitable tank, endless belts having sections of their upper and lower laps submerged in the tank, bottle supporting plates rotatably mounted between the belts, a frame for each bottle, tracks disposed in the tank for the support of the bottoms of the bottles, devices for imparting rotation to the plates upon their entrance into the tank with the upper lap of the belt, means for imparting a final rotation to the bottles after they have emerged from the tank, to insure their discharge from the plates, and a chute for delivering said bottles to the sweet-water tank, substantially as set forth.

12. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a suitable tank, endless belts having sections of their upper and lower laps passing through the tank, bottle-supporting devices disposed transversely between the belts, the intermediate sections of the belts passing out of said tank, whereby the said bottle-supporting devices alternately enter into, and emerge from the tank, substantially as set forth.

13. In a bottle-Washing apparatus, a suit;

able tank, endless chain belts having sections of their upper and lower laps passing through the tank, means for driving said belts, guidepulleys for the belts, bottlesupporting plates carried by the chains, devices for causing the automatic discharge of the bottles from the plates, an inclined chute having a series of corrugations for the reception of the bottles thus discharged, endless chains having transverse rods coupled thereto to catch the bottles in their descent down the chute, intermediate gearing between the last-named chains and the driving mechanism for the chain belts, a sweet-water tank for the reception of the bottles leaving the chute, a beater for advancing the bottles through said sweet-water tank, and positive driving connections between the heater and the driving mechanism for the chain belts, substantially as set forth.

14. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a bottlesupporting plate having a series of openings for the reception of the bottles, each opening having radial recesses communicating therewith, radial notches or depressions located along one face of the plate adjacent to the recesses, and a shoulder formed at the base of each notch, the whole being adapted to support a wire basket or frame, substantially as set forth.

15. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a wire basket or frame comprising a basal annular or circular band, longitudinal wires of substantially the contour of a bottle having their bases looped about said band, extensions for a portion of the longitudinal wires extending beyond the band, and outwardly-deflected portions or arms forming a part of said ex tensions, the whole being adapted to be supported on and secured to a suitable plate, substantially as set forth.

16. In a bottle-washing apparatus, a suitable chain having a series of pivotal links or segments, the inner member of a series of said links having cast therewith inwardlyprojecting studs, recesses formed in said studs at diagonally opposite corners, and flexed springs or arms having their fixed ends inserted into and frictionally held in said recesses, the springs spanning the interval between the studs, and a central spindle also cast with said link member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

w FRANK TH. SCHEID. Witnesses:

CHAS. W. HARDMAN, F. L. BAUER. 

